Fishing Report for May 30

FRENCHMAN LAKE: Bob Parry, from Chilcoot, Calif., caught his limit of nice-sized rainbows in about an hour last Friday trolling with rainbow Powerbait. He says that pink Powerbait also works well. He was trolling across from the Frenchman boat launch. Mark and Kevin Auser limited out at the dam and Frenchman boat launch using inflated worms.

On Sunday, Bradley Truhett of Loyalton caught his limit at Last Chance Creek back by the rocks. His fish measured about 17 inches each. Wiggin's Trading Post 530-993-4683.

LAKE DAVIS: Davis continues to impress. There is a great blood midge hatch on most days, especially when the wind stays down a bit. Nymphing with blood worm patterns in 8-14 feet of water is a great way to start. If you are there on a day when the water is calm in the mornings you might see some fish taking blood midges on the surface. Good dry and emerger patterns can fool some fish in close to the shore in shallow water. The damsels have also started to appear. Davis is on its way back and this is going to be an awesome year there. www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com, 775-742-1754.

TRUCKEE RIVER: The upper stretches of the Truckee are really low for this time of year. There is not much water coming out of Lake Tahoe and it is only running 150 CFS through the town of Truckee. By the time you get to the Lower California stretches, it is still pretty high. Most of the water in the system is coming in from the smaller tributaries downstream of Truckee. The entire river is fishable and with some cooler weather ahead it looks like it could really go off any time. Even though the water is a little high in Nevada, it is clear and in great shape. The evening hatches are starting on the lower river and should kick in as the weather starts to warm again this weekend. Nymphing with Caddis and Little Yellow Stones as a dropper and a Green Drake for a lead fly is a good way to go. Streamer fishing in the lower river with a sink tip line in the deeper pools and up against the banks has turned a bunch of big fish over the last week. Flows are: Town of Truckee 154CFS, Boca Bridge 682 CFS, Farad 778 CFS and Reno 614 CFS. www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com, 775-742-1754.

LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER: Not much has changed. The flows are still in the 440 CFS range and the water is still outside the banks in many places. Boca is about 80 percent full, so look for the flows to come down soon. Not much in the way of hatches, but it is just a matter of time before we see more midges and eventually some PMDs. Until then, nymphing with more weight than you are used to with the higher flows is the way to go. Try using Baetis and San Juan worms with a BB split shot under an indicator. Approach areas carefully as there are a lot of fish along the banks and side channels out of the main current. renoflyfishingoutfitters.com, 775-742-1754.

PYRAMID LAKE: Good numbers of fish coming out, but not a lot of big fish. Been good around Monument Rock and Dago Bay. Fish are in shallow water, the top 25-30 feet. Fly-fishermen using a variety of nymphs such as red or black Mahalos. Spoon fishermen using small, 1/4-ounce maribou jigs in olive, brown or black. Trollers doing best around Hell's Kitchen and Dago Bay. Try Murphy's Spoons or Copper vibrators in orange and black or orange and blue. Sierra Spoons in bleeding frog colors and holographic rainbow. Mark Fore & Strike, 775-786-3474 or 775-322-9559.

VERDI PONDS: The new ponds at Crystal Peak Park are fishing great. This is an awesome place to take your kids and for beginners to wet a line. The ponds are new and there are not a lot of bugs yet. There are, however, a bunch of midges hatching in the mornings and plenty of 6-10-inch cutthroats keying in on them. More than 3,000 Lahanton Cutthroats were planted and the fishing should be good for at least a month or more. Pyramidlakeflyfishing.com, 775-742-1754.

COLLINS LAKE: Trollers doing better than shore anglers. Going down 20 feet with downriggers or three colors with monofilament line. Rapalas, worms with flashers and Powerbait working well. Some trout up to 7 pounds being caught. Most in the 3-5-pound range. Trout limit is five per person. Collins Lake is located between Marysville and Grass Valley off of Highway 20. 800-286-0576.

EAST WALKER RIVER: Flows have been at 98 CFS. That is really low for the end of May. This is due to the lack of run-off and snowpack in the Sierras around Bridgeport. These are great flows for fishing this time of year. The caddis have started to hatch and nymphing during the day with size 16 light colored Caddis patterns has been working well. If you are there in the evening, look for caddis to hatch and fish to feed on the surface. Fishing has been really good from Bridgeport Reservoir all the way down to the lower end of the public stretch of Nevada. If you want to fish the East Walker, the next few weeks would be a great time. It looks like the flows are going to stay fishable through the spring. Farmers in the East Walker Basin are only going to get 23 percent of their water rights this year. At some point we are going to be talking about low flows and warm water, so now is the time to go. renoflyfishingoutfitters.com, 775-742-1754.

UPPER TWIN LAKES: Fishing pretty well. Rainbow glitter and peach Powerbait also worked well last week. Also Thomas Buoyant lures. Full stringers of 1.5-3-pounders are coming in regularly. There was a fish plant on May 6. Water temp is 50 degrees. Mono Village Resort 760-932-7071.

LAKE ALMANOR: Fishing has been good for browns around the peninsula. Most in the 2-pound range. Salmon to 2.5 pounds showing up also. Trolling has been good, especially with Strike Master Dodgers in chartreuse. The east shore has been good in 30-45 feet of water. Casting to rock outcroppings and docks has been good for bass. Mark Fore & Strike, 775-786-3474 or 775-322-9559.

LAHONTAN/RYE PATCH: Rye Patch is fishing pretty well. Trolling crank baits in crawdad colors or blue and silver. Trolling on the shelf in 8-12 feet of water. A few fish being caught from shore with worms also. Mark Fore & Strike, 775-786-3474 or 775-322-9559.

LAKE TAHOE: Fishing has been excellent. Mackinaw fishing has been great in all the typical spots, especially around Cal-Neva point and Tahoe Tavern. Go down down 150-175 feet. Concentrate your efforts near drop-offs and rock piles. Top-lining has been producing brown trout and rainbows. While top-lining, try using minnow plugs and spoons and make sure to change up often. If you have the patience to catch minnows, try trolling them behind a flasher. Top-liners doing well trolling from Sand Harbor south to Cave Rock. Mark Fore & Strike, 786-3474 or 322-9559.

DONNER LAKE: Fishing has been sporadic. Lots of rainbows being caught along the west end on Powerbait, salmon eggs, and nightcrawlers on some days, and then quiet the next. A little patience is needed but the payoff has been worth it. Macks and some browns have also been caught from shore by large pyramid-type spoons, floating and countdown Rapalas, and even some by nightcrawlers. Carolina rigging a floating Rapala with a large slip sinker and a 12-inch leader was working wonders for one angler who caught both Macks and a couple of browns. Catching minnows can be deadly this time of year for the Macks as they are within casting distance. With water temps near 47 degrees, the Kokes have started to bite, but so far only small ones are grabbing. Also, for those trolling for Macks action has been good. Trolling the usual suspects that will imitate small Kokes and Rainbows will be the top producers. Mountain Hardware, Truckee 530-587-4844.

BOCA: Holding steady at about 68 percent capacity and quiet on fishing action. Best action by shore fisherman has been near the dam and at the deeper troughs outside the inlet, especially with the high flows coming out of the L.T. Also, concentrate off points as large fish will be suspended there. Shore fisherman can be successful by throwing all sorts of bait and lures such as large spinners and small stick baits that will imitate kokanee, rainbows, or baitfish. Mountain Hardware, Truckee 530-587-4844.

STAMPEDE: Mack fishing has slowed a touch, but that doesn't mean that you won't find one. Fish under or around schools of Kokes if you're targeting the Macks. Word is that the Koke bite is great and that you'll be fishing 40-60 feet down and that the larger ones are being taken by bumping the bottom in about 60 feet of water. For the shore fisherman, spoons, large spinners, and stick baits will work and of course if you're throwing bait, nothing beats an inflated nightcrawler drenched in your favorite scent. Action here has been better for the boater, but recent reports have indicated that shore fishing has picked up. Reports over the past few weeks have some nice Smallies being caught from the shore. Mountain Hardware, Truckee 530-587-4844.

PROSSER: From the dam down to the section where the two inlets meet, fishing has been pretty good. Nice trout in the 14-18- inch range have been caught on Kastmasters in 1/4 ounce to 1/8 ounce in Perch, Watermelon, Brook trout and Gold early and late while Firetiger, Chrome/Blue and Chrome have produced better during the mid-day hours. Look for similar colors in Roostertails, Panther Martins and Thomas Bouyants. For those who have more patience, throwing nightcrawlers, Powerbait or salmon eggs will certainly be a sure bet when the schools come by. Trollers should concentrate along drop offs by the shoreline and through the Prosser Creek arm with needlefish, Dick Nites and Sierra Spinner tipped with a nightcrawler. Mountain Hardware, Truckee 530-587-4844.

CROWLEY LAKE: Cold and windy weather has hampered fishing here of late. Sandy Point is still producing with Stevie's Wonder grey/black. Performance Guide Service 760-914-0730. www.performanceguideservice.com.

HOT CREEK: Water flow is 24 cfs. Fishing is good. Not much surface action. Best results with nymphs. Buckskin nymphs, caddis pupa and small pheasant tails. Performance Guide Service, 760-914-0730.

UPPER OWENS RIVER: Current flow is 113 cfs. The whole river is open. Special regulations still in effect upstream of the Benton Crossing Bridge. Try egg patterns, San Juan worms, Prince nymphs and copper John's. Performance Guide Service 760-914-0730.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN: Water is begining to warm and fishing is improving. Twin Lakes has been best for fly rodders. Try Doc's Twin Lakes Special in black or olive on a sink tip line. Performance Guide Service 760-914-0730.

JUNE LOOP: Silver Lake still seems to be the best for float tube fly rodders fishing black or purple woolly buggers on full sink lines. Performance Guide Service 760-914-0730.

LAKE SABRINA: (Bishop, Calif.) Bait fishing with Powerbait, Salmon Eggs and nightcrawlers is still better than lure fishing (red and gold Thomas Buoyants, Super Dupers or Kastmasters). Lures are working in the morning and evenings, while bait fishing is performing better all around. Lake Sabrina Boat Landing, 760-873-7425. E-mail Fish@OurLakeSabrina.com.

SOUTH LAKE: Even with the holiday crowds fishing in force, a steady bite on pan-sized rainbows stayed strong throughout the weekend. A float tuber reported catching and releasing a solid 26-inch holdover Rainbow, so the trophies are still around. Not many lure reports but the bait guys reported doing best on nightcrawlers fished under a bobber or inflated off the bottom. The inlet provided the fastest action, but anglers reported steady fishing from just about anywhere on the shoreline. The rainbows are in full spawn mode so anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release whenever possible.

South Lake Landing is hoping to begin weekend operations in early to mid June with a limited boat and kayak fleet, with expanded operation as soon as the water level allows. As expected, the lake is coming up with the great warm weather. Creek flows were increased a bit. Parchers Resort 760-873-4177.

SOUTH FORK BISHOP CREEK: The DFW really loaded up the creeks for the holiday weekend which made for a lot of tremendously happy anglers. Tuesday through Friday the creek was pretty much wide open for many using spinners, jigs and salmon eggs. The bite slowed a bit as the weekend progressed, but most folks were still managing to catch fish. Parchers Resort 760-873-4177.

NORTH LAKE: Although the lake was a bit crowded due to the holiday weekend, anglers able to find some shoreline managed to do quite well on the usual suspects, worms, Powerbait, lures etc. Parchers Resort 760-873-4177.

INTAKE II: Reported to be full of fish but not a whole lot of biters. Perhaps the weekend crowd had them spooked. Parchers Resort 760-873-4177.

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Fishing Report for May 30

FRENCHMAN LAKE: Bob Parry, from Chilcoot, Calif., caught his limit of nice-sized rainbows in about an hour last Friday trolling with rainbow Powerbait. He says that pink Powerbait also works well.

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